Music legend Van Morrison yesterday hit back at claims he has become a dad at 64 and blasted: "It's not true."

The furious singer said reports of him having a child with American Gigi Lee had been made up by hackers who broke into his website.

And he insisted he was happily married to his long-term love Michelle Rocca, who is the mother of his two children.

The eccentric star said: "I have asked my management to carry out an immediate investigation.

"This is the second occasion on which the website has been hacked into during the last three months.

"The comments which appeared are completely and utterly without foundation."

A statement put out on his website on Tuesday claimed he had become a dad to George Ivan Morrison III. The reported mother, Gigi, has previously been referred to as Van's business partner and is named as executive producer on his Astral Weeks: Live At The Hollywood Bowl DVD.

But yesterday Morrison's friend John Saunders revealed the star told him he had never heard of her.

He said: "None of it is true and when I spoke to Van a short while ago I said, 'Do you even know this person?' And he has never heard the name at any stage in the past." Mr Saunders said Van was upset by the claims, particularly as he prefers to live his life out of the spotlight.

He added: "Van is a mystery man in many ways - his fans will testify to that. Of all the things that Van does do with a great deal of genius, one thing he probably would admit himself that he doesn't do particularly well is public relations. "I think he has just been dismayed at this and as a friend I have offered to do this interview.

"He is an intensely private person and I think he is within his rights to feel that he shouldn't have to come out and comment on something that is completely false. "I think he is flabbergasted that this has happened.

"There's been many things that have happened to him over the years, he has led a lot of his life in the limelight and this is just another episode along the way.

"But clearly it is upsetting for all their family and all their friends - hopefully this will help to put an end to it." Mr Saunders alerted Van to the internet breach after spotting the claims on the star's website.

He said: "I contacted him because I was surprised as, I know, were lots of other friends and acquaintances that this would have happened.

"I have spoken to Van twice today and he has categorically denied knowing anything whatsoever about this.

"This is the second such hacking within the last three months - there was another successful hacking of his website back in October.

"The story on his website is complete and utter fiction. He has absolutely assured me of that.

"I have spoken not only to Van but also to Michelle and both of them told me they enjoyed a lovely quiet family Christmas together."

Van has two children aged four and two and has always fiercely guarded their privacy. Although it was never confirmed, it is thought he married former Miss Ireland Michelle secretly over a year ago.